US Consulate pitches drone soccer competition won by Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior Grammar School
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Another group of Lagos students has been trained by the United States Consulate on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) methods, this time with emphasis on drone soccer.
The United States government says it is committed to supporting programs that promote STEM education and provide students with opportunities to contribute to creating sustainable and inclusive economic prosperity in Nigeria.
Based on that, the US Consulate General in collaboration with the Global Air Drone Academy (GADA) based in the US and the Lagos State Ministry of Education hosted a drone soccer competition in Lagos, the first in Africa.
Eight girl-led teams selected from 71 student teams from public high schools across Agege, Alimosho and Ifako Ijaiye areas of Lagos Education District 1 participated in the competition.
The tournament was won by Pace Setters Team from Ijaiye Housing Estate Senior Grammar School. Alisgrams Team from Alimosho Senior Grammar School took second position and Alpha Team from Abesan Senior High School third.
The three best performing teams won a prize of a $1,500 STEM lab each for their respective schools.
US Consulate Public Affairs Officer Stephen Ibelli highlighted the importance of STEM education to Nigeria’s future prosperity and economic competitiveness.
He explained that the tournament was designed to provide the students with quality technological learning opportunities and stimulate their interest in math and science, as well as careers in the STEM fields.
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Partnership with Lagos Education Ministry
“We are so proud to partner with the Lagos State Ministry of Education and the Global Air Drone Academy to not only bring practical, hands-on STEM education to the Lagos school district but also to offer the opportunity for representing schools to show off their STEM skills in drone soccer, the world’s newest sport,” Ibelli said.
GADA co-founder Eno Umoh explained that one of the key objectives of the program is to engage underserved communities, especially young girls, about the impact they could have in STEM fields.
“We are beyond excited to be pioneering the newest emerging e-sport in Africa. Drones are an innovative and engaging tool that can be used to inspire students to pursue education and careers in STEM,” Umoh added.
The drone soccer competition was a follow-up initiative to a series of drone technology and STEM training for 500 students as well as a capacity building workshop for 50 teachers on effective approaches to teaching STEM subjects which held in 2021 in Lagos Education District 1 last year.
Drone Soccer is the world’s newest e-sport played with flying quadcopters in protective plastic exoskeletons designed for full-contact gameplay.
Drone Soccer is the only educational robotics competition that is also an international sport, sanctioned by the World Air Sports Federation (Fédération Aéronautique Internationale) in 2018.
